Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author.

Langa Fonua: In Search of Success

How a Tongan Kainga Strived to be

Socially and Economically Successful in New Zealand

A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of

the requirements for the degree of

Masters

in

Public Policy

at Massey University, Auckland Campus,

New Zealand.

Sione Tu 'itahi

2005

Contents

Fakamalo: Acknowledgements _____________________ 111

v

Introduction 6

Chapter One: Theoretical Framework and Methodology 12

Literature Review .................... ........................................................................................ ............. ... 13 The Role of Kaing a in the Socio-Economic Well Being of Tongans .............................................. 13 The Strengths-based Approach .................. .. ...................... ........ ............ .... .. .................................. . 15 Social Capital . . .. . ... ..... .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . . ... . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . ... . . ............ 16 Fonua ... .. ............... .......... ............... .............. ....... .......... .. ...... ...... ..... ....... ......... ....... ....... .................. . 19 The Three Frameworks: Similarities & Differences .................................................. .......... ......... .. 22 Methodology ..................... ................................... .. ..... .. ..... .............................................................. 23 Applying the Methodology .. ... ................... ............................... ....... ................ .................... ........... 25 The Participants . . .. .. . . . .... .. ... . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . . ....... . ... . . . . . . .. .. ...... .. . .. ... .... ....... .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 26

Chapter Two: Tongans in New Zealand 31

Tongans in New Zealand Today ...................... .... .... .... ........... ...................... .................................. 40 Pockets of Success .......................................................................................................................... 42 The Church ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Kava Clubs ............ ................. ........ ............................... ......... ............ ........... ........... ................. ..... .. 44 Professional Bodies ......................................................................................................................... 45 Highly Skilled Migrants .................................................................................................................. 45 Conclusion ... .................................................. .... ........ ............... ..... ..... ............................... ............. 4 7

Chapter Three: The Story of the Tahi Kainga 49

Tauhi Fonua: Serving the community ............................................................................................ 49 Tauhi e Kainga: Family Development ............................................................................................ 51 The First Migration ......................................................................................................................... 52 The Oldest Son and His Kainga ............... .................. ... ............................ ....................... ............... 54 The Second Migration .............. .............. .................................................................................. ...... 55 Material Prosperity ......................................................................................................................... 58 Business ................ .................. ........... ............................... .... ... ................. ................ ................... ... 59 Savings Cooperative .................... .. ....... .......................................................................... ....... ......... 59 Kainga Support Network ................................................................................................................ 59 Fourth Generation Experience ........................................................................................................ 60

Chapter Four: The Anatomy of Success 62

Success is more than Achieving Material Prosperity ........ ... . ... ....... ....... .. ........ .............. ... .. ...... ..... 62 The Origin of the Framework ......................................................................................................... 64 Reproducing the Ideology and Practice ... ............ ........ ... ... .. . .. ... . . .. .... .... .......... .... .. ... . ........ ...... ... .... 64 A Kainga Strategy .......................................................................................................................... 68 Reproducing the Framework ............................................... ........................................................... 69 The Role & Significance of Tongan Cultural Concepts and Practices ............ ~ .............................. 72 The Meaning & Significance of Fakapotopoto .............................................................................. 73 Other Contributing Factors ............................................... .................................................... ....... ... 79

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Physical & Socio-Economic Environment ..................................................................................... 79 The Contribution of Spouses .. ..... .. .. . .. .. ... ... . ... .. .. . . . . . ... . ... . ... . ... .. .. .. ....... .. . . . . .. .. ......... .. ..... ..... .... .. ...... 81 The Flexibility of the Kainga ........................................................ ................... .. ............................. 87 Managing the Challenges and Conflicts ......................................................................................... 88 Physical & Social Environment .. . . ... . ... . ..... ... ..... ... . .. .... .. .... .. . .. . . . .. .. . . . ... . .. ..... .. . ...... ... . ........ .. . . ... ....... 89 The Lack of Finance . .. ... . . .. . ... . . . .. . ... . . . .. . . .. ... .. .. .............. .. . . .. .... .. .... .. . . . . .. . .. . .. .. . ... ...... .. . . ...... .. . . . .... .. . . . 91 The Challenge of Diverse Spiritual Ideologies ............................................................................... 92 Challenges of the Fourth Generation ............................................................ .................................. 94 Conflict of Views on Leadership and Management Model .................................................... 95

Chapter Five: Conclusion and Recommendations 98

A Model of Success .. ............................... ..... .................................................................................. 98 The Crucial Difference . .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ...... .. . ... . . . . . . . . ... .... .. . . ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... . .. . ... . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. .. 100 Some Lessons for this Thesis .. . ... . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . ... . . . ... . . ... ........ .... ... .. . . . . 101 Framework and Methodologies ........ .......... .................................................................................. 102 Concepts, Frameworks, Tools ......................................................... .. .......... .................... ............. 102 Some Key Findings from the Kainga experience ........................................... .. .. .......................... 103 The Role of Spirituality and Religious Ideology in the Tahi Kainga ........................................... 104 Further Research on the Institution of the Kainga .. . ..... .. . . .. .. . .... .. . . . ..... .. . . ... . .. ...... .. . .. ........ .. .. . .. . .. . . 104

Appendices

Appendix One: Talamu 'aki (Abstract in Tongan) ........................................................... 105

Appendix Two: Talateu (Introduction in Tongan) .......................................................... 106

Appendix Three: Vahe Nima (Chapter Five in Tongan) .................................................. 111

Appendix Four: List of Interview Participants ............................................................... 120

Appendix Five: Information Sheet on Research ................ : ............................................. 121

Appendix Six: Information Sheet (Tongan) ....................................................................... 123

Appendix Seven: Interview Schedule .............................................................................. 125

Bibliography ...................... ..... ... ................ .......... .............. ...................... ........... ............ 126

Glossary of Tongan words ............................................................................................. 129

Tables & Charts:

Map 1.1: Genealogy Map A ............................................................................................... 27 Map 1.2: Genealogy Map B ............................................................................................... 28 Map 1.3: Genealogy Map C ............................................................................................... 28 Table 2.1: Pacific population growth since 1986 ............................................................... 38 Table 2.2: Growth of the Tongan population since 1971 ............... , .................................. 39 Table 3.1: Progress of Skills Development of Third Generation of Tahi Kainga ............. 57 Table 4.1: Five Dimensions of the Tahi Kainga Strategy .................................................. 68 Table 4.2: Fakapotopoto: A Leadership and Management Tool ....................................... 78

ii

Fakamalo

Ki he'eku ongo faiako, Palofesa Cluny Macpherson mo Toketa 'Okusitino Mahina. Malo 'aupito e

tokoni mo e tataki ke lava 'o fakahoko e fakatotolo ni. 'Oku hounga makehe foki ho'omo tali ke

liliu ki he Lea Tonga 'a e Talamu'aki, Talateu, mo e vahe faka'osi 'o e ngaue ni koe'uhi ke

faka'ilonga'i 'a e 'uluaki lea mo e anga fakafonua 'oku 'anautolu 'a e koloa he fekumi ni. Ki he'eku

'uluaki faiako, Palofesa Marilyn Waring, malo 'a e fakalotolahi mo ho'o tali 'a e kaveinga 'o e

fekumi fakaako ni.

Ki he'eku fanga kui, Siosiua mo Lavinia Tu'itahi mei Ha'ano mo Pukotala, (Ha'apai), Kamipeli mo

Mele Taufa mei Hunga (Vava'u) mo Mu'a (Tongatapu), ki he'eku ongo matu'a, Takavaha mo Talia

Tu'itahi, ki hoku fanga tokoua mo e tuofafine kae'uma'a homou ngaahi hoa mo e fanau. 'Oku

hounga mo' oni ho' omou poupou mo ho' omou tokoni.

Ki hoku hoa, Tupou Halaholo-Tu'itahi, mo 'ema fanau, Ridvan, Siosaia mo Benjamin. Malo

si'omou tali e fe'amokaki mo e houmoana kae taufonua 'a e feinga fakaako ni.

Ki he kainga 'o Tahi 'oku 'oatu 'a e fakamalo matu'aki loto hounga mo'oni 'i ho'omou tali ke

fakahoko 'a e fekumi ni 'i homou kainga.

Tumutumu e fakamalo ki he Ta'ehamai mo 'Ene 'ofa

111

Acknowledgements

First, to my supervisors, Professor Cluny Macpherson, and Dr. 'Okusitino Mahina, thank you for

your advice and supervision without which I could not have accomplished this work. I am of extra

indebtedness to you for accepting a bi-lingual (Tongan and English) Abstract, Introduction and

Chapter Five of this thesis in order to make this work accessible to those who do not speak English,

and also to acknowledge the culture in which this thesis located.

To my programme coordinator, Professor Marilyn Waring, thank you for your guidance,

encouragement and approval of my research topic.

To my grandparents, my parents, my brothers and sisters, your spouses and children, thank you for

your love and support.

To my children, Benjamin, Siosaia and Ridvan, thank you for your endurance, understanding and

loving-support. To my beloved wife, Tupou, thank you for your sacrificial love.

With heart-felt gratitude I wish to express my sincere words of thanks to the Tahi kainga for their

generous assistance with this study.

"Blessed is the spot ... where mention of God hath been made and His praise glorified."

IV

Abstract1

In search of social and economic success, Tongans started to migrate to New Zealand more than 40

years ago. Government studies and other research show that Tongans and other Pacific ethnic

minorities are on the lowest rung of the socio-economic ladder (Statistics New Zealand, 2002a;

Pacific Directions Report, 1999). In the midst of these negative statistics, there are pockets of

success, but no detailed research has been conducted in this area (Pacific Directions Report, 1999).

This thesis explores the diverse perspectives on and attitudes to, social and economic success in

four generations of a migrant Tongan kainga (extended family). It examines the insights and

understanding of this particular kainga of the concept of success, and analyses the values and

motives that drive them to achieve it. It investigates the strategies they employ to achieve goals, the

challenges they face, and why they are successful.

An exploratory study, this thesis argues that more research should be conducted on the socio­

economic success of Tongans. Findings from such research can inform policies and strategies for

socio-economic development for Tongan families and community groups in Aotearoa New

Zealand. This research will contribute to the construction of a larger and more representative study

of successful Tongan kainga that can inform the development of social and economic policies for

Tongans in New Zealand.

1 A Tongan translation of the Abstract is attached as Appendix One

v

lntroduction2

The majority of Tongans, and other Pacific peoples, in New Zealand are ctirrently at the lowest

level of the socio-economic hierarchy in New Zealand society. While policies have been set and

implemented to remedy this socio-economic disparity, no studies have been done on the experience

of the successful minority, which, while exposed to the same socio-economic forces, is more

socially and economically successful. Although exploratory, this thesis aims to offer insights by

identifying the factors that contribute to the success, and achievement of one such part of that

minority. This chapter provides a brief snapshot of the socio-economic status of Pacific peoples,

including Tongans, and argues for research on the experience of the successful few.

Tongan Socio-Economic Status In New Zealand

The low socio-economic status of the majority of Tongans and other Pacific peoples in New

Zealand and the contributing factors has been well documented over the past two decades (Statistics

New Zealand, 2002a; Pacific Directions Report, 1999).This disadvantage is apparent across a range

of key social indicators. In health, for example, the Ministry of Health (2004) noted that compared

with the total New Zealand population, Pacific peoples have poorer health status, are more exposed

to risk factors for poor health, and experience barriers to accessing health. It further noted that,

'Pacific peoples in New Zealand currently experience an independent life expectancy at birth of

approximately of 62.5 years, about four years less than the national average' (Pacific Health Chart

Book 2004, p. xxix).

2 A Tongan translation of the Introduction is attached as Appendix Two

6

The low socio-economic status of Pacific peoples is also demonstrated in their level of income and

type of accommodation. According to the New Zealand Census 2001 the real median annual

income of Pacific peoples, age 15 and above was $14,800, while the median income for the total

New Zealand population was $18,600.

The census also revealed that:

• The median annual income for adult males of Pacific ethnicity was $17,800, nearly $5,000 more than the median of $13,000 for females.

• I in 6 adults of Pacific ethnicity had a tertiary qualification as their highest qualification. • Nearly 2 in 3 adults of Pacific ethnicity were in the labour force. • 4 in 5 employed adults of Pacific ethnicity worked full time. • The most common occupation groups for adults of Pacific ethnicity was plant and machine

operators and assemblers (12,804), followed by service and sales workers (11,382), and clerks (11,097) (Statistics New Zealand, 2002a, p. 11).

Furthermore, only 26 per cent of Pacific peoples own their own homes, compared to 55 per cent for

the national population. Housing conditions are also worse for Pacific peoples, with 21 per cent

living with more than two occupants per bedroom, compared to three per cent of the national

population. The census also revealed that:

Nearly a third (3 1 percent) of Fijian adults (aged 15 years and over) stated that they owned or partly owned their own home. For Tuvaluan people, a less established population, the equivalent proportion was 16 percent. By comparison, 26 percent of the total Pacific adult population, and 55 percent of the New Zealand adult population owned or partly owned their own home in 2001. The younger age structure of the Pacific ethnic groups is a contributing factor to this difference. The levels of home ownership among the remaining major Pacific ethnic groups were: Samoan (27 percent), Niuean (25 percent), Cook Island Maori (24 percent) Tongan (23 percent), and Tokelauan (22 percent) (Statistics New Zealand, 2002a, p. 12).

Successive governments have been responding to these problems, especially over the last two

decades. Acts were amended, policies were approved with structures to implement strategies and

related action plans. For example, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs was restructured in the late

7

1990s, and took up an advisory role to Government and to all ministries to ensure they defined

Pacific objectives and established programs to deliver measurable milestones for Pacific

populations. Under this role, the ministry collaborated with other government departments and

established the Pacific Capacity Building initiative: the policy framework that guides government

departments to respond to Pacific peoples' socio-economic needs. As a result, most ministries now

have Pacific strategies with Pacific staff to implement their respective plans3• The Ministry of

Health, for instance, has its Pacific Health and Disability Plan in place while the Tertiary Education

Commission has a specific Pacific strategy in its overall Strategic Plan for the tertiary education

sector.

As briefly described above, this response to address Pacific issues is based on the analysis of its

negative socio-economic status. It is a problem-focused approach. While focusing on the deficits of

Tongans and other Pacific peoples results in understanding of underlying causes and produces more

appropriate remedies, focusing solely on the deficit has disadvantages. For example, accentuating

the negative creates a negative image (Smith, 1999; Helu-Thaman, 2002) that can influence the

dominant group's expectations of the group, and can further undermine the self-worth of the

researched, which is already a marginalized minority group. Although it is factual, focussing on

aggregated data masks the ways in which the social capital of successful sub-groups within the

population contributes to the economic utilization of meagre resources. That approach also masks

the ways in which sharing and reciprocity lift the social and economic status of a whole kainga,

rather than its accumulation in one nuclear family at the expense of others in the same extended

family unit. Similarly, other such insights that are based on proven strengths and which can offer

hints as to how best to work with, and help Pacific peoples, are not identified. In short, only part of

the story is told. In many instances, the untold part may be of great importance to the researched

3 See the website of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, http://www.minpac.govt.nz/, for links to these strategies

8

since it may hold the key to effective approaches to both understanding and transforming their

situation.

The study of those models and of the processes which are adopted in these successful sub-groups

can contribute to a more balanced and complete story of Tongan settlement, and provide a counter-

balancing academic narrative. The resulting insights and understandings can also inform future

policies on social and economic development for Tongans in New Zealand. Durie (2003) argues for

such a balance with regards to Maori development. He writes:

The balance between a deficit model and a model of positive development needs to be struck (a move towards the positive is required if real progress is to be made) otherwise there is a risk that policies will be formulated only on the basis of Maori being a marginalised minority (Durie, 2003, p. 160).

Shifting Focus to Positive

Although exploratory, this thesis attempts to draw lessons from the experiences of successful

Tongans for the reasons which have been discussed earlier. The review of relevant literature (as

discussed in Chapter One) confirmed that no academic research or studies of the social and

economic success of Tongan groups and individuals in New Zealand had been conducted. However,

anecdotal evidence suggests that some Tongan groupings in New Zealand, especially some kainga

have demonstrated on-going success (Tu'itahi, 1998).

The kainga is regarded by the majority of Tongans as the basic social unit, (Mahina, 1992; Helu,

1999) hence the decision to conduct this study on an extended family. Other researchers agree. As

Vaden (1998) writes:

In spite of the impacts of emigration and western society, the kainga (extended family) still stands as the backbone of Tongan society. The kainga, at its best, can be a wonderful example of cooperative beings working together to survive. On the other hand excessive family demands and in-fighting can smother individual creativity and wreak havoc with individual professional pursuits (Vaden, 1998, pp.126-127).

9

But not all kainga are, as the quote above implies, as 'successful' as each other. This raises the

important question of what makes some kainga more 'successful' than others. This is best revealed

by detailed study of a particular kainga that has succeeded, and may reveal which, of a number of

possible factors, makes the crucial difference. The kainga at the centre of this study includes four

generations. It includes great grandparents, parents, nine of their eleven children and their partners,

and ten grand children (17 years of age and above) in New Zealand. For the purpose of

confidentiality, this kainga is named the Tahi kainga.

The decision to conduct the research with this particular kainga was based of the following

additional reasons:

• many of its members have been successful in education, business, or in their professions

or trades, and have overcome the challenges and seized opportunities which migration has

presented. In this respect, this kainga is successful than many other Tongan extended

families, and may therefore contain the key to understanding why this is the case.

• members of the kainga gave their consent and were very supportive of this research. The

kainga was happy to share its experience as a contribution to the building of knowledge

that can assist in the overall development of Tongans and other migrants.

• A level of mutual trust between the researcher and the kainga members as participants was

already high and well established.

This case study approach provides in-depth insights to the worldview of a Tongan kainga, and into

how Tongan kainga structure and organisation, can provide a platform for collective success in an

individualistic and materialistic society. It provides a more accurate understanding to how members

perceive and define "success". It reveals the values, inspirations and motives that made them

10

migrate, work, pool together resources to buy properties, and set up educational schemes to educate

kainga members. It shows how the kainga structure provided a basis for these activitivities. It also

examines tensions within the kainga as it adapts to new circumstances and looks into the future.

There is no scope in this thesis to provide insights to extended families that are not successful.

11